Fall 2008 - Maryland School for the Deaf

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Community News MSD Honors Fallen Officer On Wednesday, October 29 th , MSD students, faculty, and staff paid their final respects to fallen Frederick City Officer Richard Mark Bremer, 39, as his funeral procession passed by the school. Officer Bremer was killed on October 22 nd when his cruiser crashed during a pursuit. Officer Bremer has been on the Frederick campus for a variety of reasons over the past few years. In MSD’s association with him it was evident that he was a man of integrity and truly dedicated to his profession. He had a natural ability to interact and establish a rapport with administrators and students. Always caring and compassionate, he would inquire by name how an individual he had met with a few weeks prior was doing. MSD received a number of messages of thanks from individuals included in the procession. Kirsten Lawyer, Officer Bremer’s wife Mrs. Sharon Bremer’s best friend, e-mailed the school saying how amazing it was to see the students lined up outside to pay their respects. Mrs. Bremer, Kirsten said, was speechless when she saw the long line of MSD students and staff. The school has submitted copies of the High School Daily Bulletin which honored Officer Bremer, a letter to the Frederick Police Department, a CD of Students and staff are amazed by the hundreds of police vehicles involved in the procession for fallen Officer Bremer. pictures taken by the student yearbook staff and school photographer, and some of the posters held by the students to a box of mementos for Officer Bremer’s wife and their three children. In addition to this, on November 7 th , the faculty and staff hosted a Jeans Day and raised $525 for the Mark Bremer Memorial Fund. Carrie Payne from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office e-mailed saying she sincerely appreciated what MSD did to honor Officer Bremer. She and her law enforcement colleagues were very touched as the procession entered the city and were greeted by so many members of MSD community standing respectfully along Market Street with “I love you” hand shapes and posters. Officer Brian T. Payne of the Frederick City Police Department also sent a personal thank you saying, “It was a moment that neither I, nor anyone else that was in the funeral procession, will soon ever forget. Thank you for your show of love and support. It will never be forgotten.” Officer Bremer’s pastor, Rev. J. Kevin Farmer of the Holy Family Catholic Community in Middletown, wrote a letter in the editorial section of the November 9 th edition of the Frederick News-Post thanking the citizens from all walks of life for their outpouring support, paying their respects by lining the streets during 28 THE MARYLAND BULLETIN, FALL 2008 Frederick Police Department Officer Richard Mark Bremer the procession: “Perhaps the most moving sight for me was as we drove by the Maryland School for the Deaf, all the students were standing out in the cold holding signs of love and support.” The MSD family will sorely miss Officer Bremer. The final tribute to him was the least the school could do to express its sincerest respect and gratitude to him for his work with MSD, sacrificing his life to keep this community safe. Rest in peace, departed friend! MB —Melinda C. Padden, Principal, FC melinda.padden@msd.edu Jakia Crews, Gabriela Munguia, Chenae Laldee, and Jesse Steingieser hold one of the many signs made by the students.
By Frank Schwartz, By Albert his Lee son Tharpe III, Senior Herman Louis Schwartz, ‘41 Herman Louis Schwartz was born on February 20, 1921 in Baltimore, Maryland and he entered the Maryland School for the Deaf at the age of ten. He was the middle child of three: the oldest, Sylvia, was hearing, and his other sister, Evelyn, had been born deaf like him. He first attended school at Baltimore City #97 for several years. While there was a small group of deaf students, this was an oral program with no sign language permitted. One afternoon as he and his sisters were walking near their home, a neighbor started signing to them. When it became clear that they did not understand him, the neighbor asked them to take him to their parents, who ran a small neighborhood grocery store. This is when he first learned of MSD. Herman’s father, Frank Schwartz, took him to visit the school and his entire world opened up. He began attending MSD shortly after this first visit, and he immediately became immersed in learning ASL, met many lifelong friends, played sports (including baseball and basketball), and spent the next ten years of his life growing in his understanding of deaf culture and community. He joined Boy Scout Troop 16 at the school and worked to successfully achieve the level of Eagle Scout. This allowed him to be chosen as one of the few from the troop to represent the school at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1940 for his third term as president. Herman, along with hundreds of other scouts from across the country, lined the inaugural parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue. From this vantage point, he was able to see President Roosevelt up close as the car passed a few feet in front of him. While at MSD he learned various skills in the trades of furniture, printing, shoe repair, and tailoring. He also began building model wooden ships, a hobby and love that would stay with him throughout the rest of his life. His first ship, the America, was built from a model kit and was later renamed the Doris for his future wife. His next ship, the USS Texas, was built from scratch while at MSD. He entered the ship in a Frederick Community exhibition which won a prize and was on display for many years in the MSD Barrack Museum. Over the next several decades, he went on to build many beautifully crafted wooden ships from scratch which highlighted his love and ability for detailed artwork. These ships are displayed at his current home in Bel Air, MD. After graduating from MSD in 1941, he became actively involved in the Silent Oriole Club, Inc. (SOC) located in Baltimore City and was an active club member for many years. He met Doris Marie Meekins, also a native of Maryland, at the SOC and they married on September 18, 1948. He and Doris raised three sons, Frank, David and Gary, in northern Baltimore City. Herman began his working career as a mapmaker for the War Department in Washington, DC, and subsequently began a long career as a mapmaker/ draftsman with the Maryland State Roads Commission. Creating the templates for the printing of the Maryland State Highway maps involved much painstaking detailed craftsmanship. He also worked part-time for a number of years for the Maryland Match Company which involved hand painting matchbook covers, including graphics and text, in actual scale. These would then be printed and used on matchbook covers distributed throughout the country. Another showcase for his artistic talent was the hand painted memorial plate that he created for MSD’s 21 st Quadrennial Reunion held in 1976. THE MARYLAND BULLETIN, FALL 2008 MSD Alumni Profile Herman and his wife Doris have always been advocates for the deaf, whether it be involvement with the SOC or participating in events at MSD and Gallaudet University. They have maintained relationships with many members of Maryland’s deaf community throughout the years. They have also built close friendships with many in the hearing community, always seeking to build common understanding. Herman is still an avid sports fan, following both the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens closely. In fact, he loves all sports—but especially any Marylandbased team. Several years ago, his wife Doris was stricken with a number of health problems. As a result, the difficult decision to have her reside in a nursing facility in Forest Hill, MD was made. Herman visits her every day, and they continue to share their love and devotion. They celebrated their 60 th wedding anniversary with family and friends in September. MB Herman Schwartz in 2008 Herman Schwartz as senior in 1941 29
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